INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSES ON THE NATURE OF WATER IN MONTMORILLONITE

Interlayer cations and moisture content greatly influence the molecula r vibrations of H2O in montmorillonite as shown through reflectance sp ectroscopy in the infrared. The absorptions due to H2O have been studi ed in montmorillonites exchanged with H, Na, Ca, Mg and Fe3+ interlaye r cations under variable moisture environments. Band assignments have been made for absorptions in the 3 mum region due to structural OH vib rations, symmetric and asymmetric H2O stretching vibrations and the H2 O bending overtone. Changes in the energies of the absorptions due to H2O stretching vibrations were observed as the samples were dehydrated by reducing the atmospheric pressure. Absorptions near 3620 cm-1 and 3550 cm-1 have been assigned to water bound directly to cations (inner sphere) and surface-water H2O and absorptions near 3450 cm-1 and 3350 cm-1 have been assigned to additional adsorbed water molecules. Band assignments have been made for combination bands in the near-infrared as well. Absorptions near 1.41 mum and 1.91 mum are assigned to bound H2O combination bands, while the shoulders near 1.46 mum and 1.97 mum are assigned to combinations of additional H2O molecules adsorbed in t he interlayer regions and along grain surfaces.